Monday, 23 December 2013

Hearing of treason case against Musharraf to resume shortly


The court has summoned the former President to face the charges.

ISLAMABAD (AFP) - Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday faces trial for treason over his imposition of emergency rule in 2007, charges he has dismissed as politically motivated.
The 70-year-old is expected to appear in person before a specially-convened court in the capital Islamabad, after legal efforts to have the tribunal ruled invalid failed.
Armed government paramilitary Rangers were stationed around the National Library building, where the hearing is to take place, and shipping containers put in place to form a security barrier to the compound.
The government had earlier filed a complaint under article 6 of the constitution and other relevant laws against the former president for subverting‚ suspending‚ abrogating and holding in abeyance the constitution.
It is the first time in Pakistan's history that a former military ruler has been put on trial for treason.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who won a third term in May's general election, was the man Musharraf ousted in his 1999 coup and the former general's lawyers say he is using the case to exact revenge.
Since returning from self-imposed exile in March to run in the election, Musharraf has faced a range of serious criminal cases dating back to his 1999-2008 rule.
He stands accused of murder over the death of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, killed in a gun and suicide attack in December 2007, as well as charges over the death of a rebel leader, a deadly military raid on a radical mosque and the detention of judges.
Musharraf was put under house arrest in April over the cases but was granted bail in each, one by one.

High level postings in Pakistan Army


Zamiur ul Hasan as Adjutant General and Obaidullah as Commander Army Strategic Force.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - High-level transfers and postings have been made in Pakistan Army on Monday.
According to ISPR, Lt Gen Obaidullah has been posted as Commander Strategic Force, Lt Gen Javed Iqbal as Corps Commander Bahawalpur, Lt Gen Zameerul Hassan as Adjutant General at GHQ, Lt Gen Ikramul Haq as IG Training & Evaluation and Lt Gen Mohammad Zahid Latif has been posted as Commander Army Air Defense.

Rawalpindi: Mobile services to be suspended on Imam Hussain's Chehlum


A decision over suspension of mobile phones services in Rawalpindi has been taken.

RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – The Punjab government has finalised the security plan for the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain in Rawalpindi.
According to sources, the government has imposed a ban on pillion ridding, use of loudspeaker and exhibition of arms in the city.
Meanwhile, the government is also considering closing all educational institutions on the eve of Hazrat Imam Hussain’s Chehlum.
A decision over suspension of mobile phones services has been taken. However, decision over suspension of complete or partial cellular services will be taken in evening, the sources added.
Meanwhile heavily contingents of police, Rangers and army would be deployed on main points of the procession.
A group of ulema refused to follow the suggestions of police and district administration.
Earlier on Sunday, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar directed all concerned officials to ensure strict security measures on Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain.
Chairing a high-level meeting, Nisar ordered Islamabad police to make foolproof security arrangements on the occasion.
 

Nuclear deal with Pakistan only for peaceful purposes: China


Says Pak-China nuclear deal aims help Pakistan tackle the shortage of power.

Beijing (Dunya News) - Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying has said that it will continue cooperating with Pakistan in the civil nuclear energy to solve the power shortage of Pakistan.
Addressing a daily news briefing‚ a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in Beijing that such cooperation is entirely for peaceful purposes‚ in line with international obligations‚ and subject to the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
With reference to the construction of a nuclear power plant in Karachi‚ she said it helps to ease Pakistan's electricity shortage and China will continue to provide assistance within its ability.
Construction of Pakistan's largest nuclear power project with the Chinese cooperation was launched in Karachi on Nov. 26.
According to local media reports‚ the Coastal Power Projects K-II and K-III are designed to produce 2‚200 megawatts of electricity when completed in November 2019.

Great Catch By Umar Akmal

Kamran Akmal as a great player in Pakistan Cricket team

Chinese users welcome Apple, China Mobile deal


The deal gives Apple a bigger entry into the huge Chinese market.

BEIJING (AFP) - Chinese users welcomed a long-awaited tie-up between Apple and China Mobile, the world's biggest wireless operator, but analysts warned Monday that the deal's impact depends on the quality of the carrier's 4G network.
The US technology giant and China Mobile on Sunday unveiled the agreement to bring the iPhone to customers on a network with an estimated 760 million subscribers and until now dominated by low-cost Android smartphones.
The US company's iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c phones will be available at China Mobile and Apple retail stores across mainland China starting January 17, they said in a joint statement.
Chinese mobile phone users gave the deal a rousing ovation, hailing it as "a marathon love affair that finally came to a happy ending", in the words of one fan.
"It finally comes -- I've been waiting for so long that I'm exhausted," a user with the online handle Gluttonous Miser posted on Sina Weibo, a Chinese equivalent of Twitter.
Apple iPhones can currently be used on China Mobile's 2G network but not on its higher-speed 3G network due to a home-grown standard the carrier has adopted.
While users were generally upbeat, some raised concerns about the cost of the devices to be offered by China Mobile.
"Come on, the price must not let us down, it has to be encouraging, better not to go over 4,000 yuan ($660)," wrote another user.
The unsubsidised price of the iPhone 5, a model with slightly reduced cost to appeal to budget-conscious consumers, is $550 in the United States but higher in other countries, often due to tax and regulatory costs. In China the 5c sells at more than $700.
Negotiations between Apple and China Mobile took years, with one key hurdle reportedly being the US company's demand for sales volume guarantees.
The deal gives Apple a bigger entry into the huge Chinese market, as the company is facing declining market share and seeking to counter the flood of low-cost smartphones from rivals.
Even though iPhone sales grew 25.6 percent in the third quarter from a year earlier, growth was slower than the overall market and Apple's market share fell to 12.9 percent from 14.4 percent in the same period last year, according to a survey by market intelligence firm IDC.
But analysts said that the immediate benefit from the partnership will be limited given that many of China Mobile's customers are already using iPhones, lessening the prospect of a sharp boost to sales.
They said the main rationale for the deal was likely both companies' strategy in the 4G era, which will allow users to -- among other things -- watch movies and play games on mobile networks at a much faster speed and in better quality.
In the statement, Apple and China Mobile said the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c "both offer more 4G LTE bands than any other smartphone in the world."
"The collaboration between Apple and China Mobile will give a big boost to the development of China's homegrown 4G/TD-LTE technology," it said.
China granted three state-owned operators licenses early this month to offer services on the new network, and China Mobile is rolling out the world's biggest 4G network.
"If (China Mobile's) 4G network comes online (with good quality), the impact will be rather big," Xu Zhipeng, a Beijing-based analyst with research firm Zero2ipo Group, told AFP.
However, given the operator's problem-prone 3G network, it will take time for Chinese users to build up confidence and accept the new network, he said.
"Customers may take a wait-and-see attitude towards its 4G network and will not rush to (grab an iPhone) as its price is rather high," Xu said.